Cristal Castro
Cristal Castro is a European-American communication design student at the New York City College of Technology. Her passion for the arts and design came at an early age, drawing anime characters and strange cartoons. Despite being told she’d be better off as a sonography specialist, Cristal knew from the beginning that she was born for the design industry. At NYCCT, she hopes to refine her skills in all types of design to expand her knowledge in the field and become successful. In this interview, she discusses her experiences in design, her role model, and what the future looks like in her eyes.
What are your past graphic design experiences?
In high school, I took multiple design classes including Digital Animation, Prototyping Design, Design Studio, and Digital Media. I created my own app and logo, created a movie poster, and even sketched up a futuristic car and made a clay mold of it. I used Adobe Photoshop, SketchUp, and Sketch (my personal favorite). During my free time, I enjoy creating different graphics and covers for books and songs. Sometimes when I am making something, I like to listen to music because it helps me set the tone for my product. I made a cover for a song called Olivia by Satin Jackets, and used my photograph of Nerja, Spain to set a minimalistic tone. I felt that the tone of the cover matches with the song itself.
Who is a role model you look up to in this field?
A role model I look up to in this field is Paula Scher, one of the most influential graphic designers in the world. About a year ago I watched a docuseries on Netflix called Abstract: The Art of Design, highlighting artists that have made an impact in design. The sixth episode was about Paula Scher, and that’s how I found out about her. I was surprised when I realized that I’ve seen her work almost everywhere, even at CitiBank. The way she’d combine pop culture with typography and contemporary art intrigued me, especially since at the time when designers didn’t use those elements in their work. Another thing that I admired about Scher is the fact that she has become very successful in a male-dominated industry, and I want to do the same thing.
What is your avatar and how does it represent you?
My avatar is Sam Manson as an adult from Danny Phantom. She has long, black straight hair and is wearing a spiky choker. She is also wearing a black camisole top with an oval-shaped logo on it. I think the avatar represents me in the sense that I like to express myself visually, not verbally. I think visual expression is much more powerful because when you hear something, you don’t always remember it. However, when you look at something that really catches your eye you are more likely to remember it. Part of my childhood was watching cartoons from the late 90’s to mid-2000’s, and Danny Phantom was one of my favorites. I enjoy drawing cartoons and even creating my own while having nostalgia. Sam was my favorite character from the show, and if I were to draw myself as a cartoon, I’d look like her.
Can you see yourself doing anything else?
Career wise, I see myself 100% invested in design. I have a huge imagination and many ideas, and design is what allows me to express myself and my brand to the fullest. In design, there’s always room for improvement, even if you’re successful. Everyone has a different perspective when it comes to art, and you always learn from that and grow. That’s what I love about design. I also see myself travelling around the world. When you travel, you get to experience other cultures, types of architecture, and techniques that they use in design. When I went to Nerja, the paleolithic buildings were white and royal blue, which set a more simplistic and tropical tone for a graphic that would be designed for that town.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I see myself living in Madrid, Spain working as an art director at a large company. Spain is my home, it’s where I am originally from. Madrid is a bustling city filled with creative, bright minds. Everything is much for laid-back, which is the polar opposite of the chaotic New York City. Being at home will allow me to introduce new styles and techniques to the country, adding a cultural twist. I hope to become influential as a result, to the point where there is picture of myself at the Adolfo-Barajas International Airport. This is where I see myself in the future, but will time take me somewhere else? Who knows.
